sping his hands)
O, god Ninus!

(CURTAIN)

ACT II.

The great hall in the palace of Nineveh. The rear is open, showing
the sky and the towers of the city. Along the floor, which is high
above the ground court, rear, are sculptured lions. On each side
of hall where right and left reach open rear are large entrances,
with steps leading up to hall, guarded by spearmen and archers.
Within the hall, between winged bulls, are entrances to chambers,
right centre and left centre. Near front, right, smaller entrance
between figures of men with lion heads. The same opposite, left.
The walls of the hall are lined with alabaster slabs on which are
sculptured and colored the conquests of Assyrian kings.

Ninus alone. Enter Vassin, left centre.

Nin. (As Vassin enters)
You've told her?

Vas. Ay, my lord.

Nin. What does she say?
Does she suspect we ordered Khosrove's torture?

Vas. I can not answer that.

Nin. Then answer this!
You're sure that he will die? You made good work?

Vas. Good work, my lord. He can not live a day.

Nin. A day! You've hurried then! I bade you fill
His wounds with mortal but a lingering bane!
Go, have him brought within! He must not die
Without my foot upon his neck!

(As Vassin is going) What said
The queen?

Vas. She cried 'My brother's lost!'

Nin. No more?

Vas. O, then her soul put sorrow's grandeur on,
And those about her saw a noble storm;
But yet so proud her royal eyes, each drop
That fell from them were worth a world
To him for whom they fell!

Nin. (Aside) He loves the queen!

(Enter Semiramis, left, centre)

Sem. Is this thing true my lord? O, surely Heaven
Will cry out 'No' though thou must answer 'Ay!'

Nin. (To Vassin) Go! (Exit Vassin, right front)

Sem. Is it true?

Nin. Too true, my queen!
Khosrove is maimed beyond all hope of life,
And thou must make thy husband heir to love
That was thy brother's.

Sem. Oh!

Nin. Thy grief is m